Managing knee pain with simple analgesia: the efficacy, cost and adherence implications

ISRCTN ISRCTN87954265
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN87954265
Secondary identifying numbers G9900285
Submission date
23/10/2000
Registration date
23/10/2000
Last edited
30/07/2009
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Musculoskeletal Diseases
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data
Record updated in last year

Plain English summary of protocol

Not provided at time of registration

Contact information

Dr Alison Carr
Scientific

Academic Rheumatology
University of Nottingham
Clinical Sciences Building
Nottingham
NG5 1PB
United Kingdom

Study information

Study designRandomised controlled trial
Primary study designInterventional
Secondary study designRandomised controlled trial
Study setting(s)Not specified
Study typeTreatment
Scientific title
Study objectives1. Treatment trial: to test the hypothesis that continuous use of simple analgesia in osteoarthritis (OA) knee is more effective in reducing pain in the affected joint than analgesia used on an 'as required' basis.
2. Adherence trial: to test the hypothesis that a simple intervention delivered by practice nurses can increase adherence to continuous analgesia.
Ethics approval(s)Not provided at time of registration
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studiedOsteoarthritis of the knee
InterventionTreatment trial:
1. Continuous use paracetamol (4 g daily)
2. 'As required' paracetamol (up to 4 g daily as needed)

Adherence trial (all patients in treatment group 1):
1. Individualised educational intervention to promote adherence delivered by practice nurse
2. No intervention
Intervention typeDrug
Pharmaceutical study type(s)
PhaseNot Specified
Drug / device / biological / vaccine name(s)Paracetamol
Primary outcome measureTreatment trial: pain in the affected joint measured by 100 mm visual analogue scale
Adherence trial: Proportion of patients who adhere to the regimen for continuous paracetamol
Secondary outcome measuresNot provided at time of registration
Overall study start date01/09/1999
Completion date01/03/2002

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Patient
Age groupSenior
SexBoth
Target number of participants244 - Discontinued after March 2002
Key inclusion criteria1. Male and female patients over 55 years
2. Clinical diagnosis osteoarthritis of the knee
3. Current joint pain score greater than 30 on a 10 mm visual analogue scale
Key exclusion criteria1. Serious concomitant illness
2. Other pain-related conditions
3. Abnormal liver function tests
4. History of analgesic abuse or overdose
5. Severe OA awaiting joint replacement
6. Psychological disorders requiring treatment
7. Patients unable to follow instructions/complete questionnaires.
8. Use of over the counter medication containing paracetamol for duration of the study
Date of first enrolment01/09/1999
Date of final enrolment01/03/2002

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • England
  • United Kingdom

Study participating centre

Academic Rheumatology
Nottingham
NG5 1PB
United Kingdom

Sponsor information

Medical Research Council (MRC) (UK)
Research council

20 Park Crescent
London
W1B 1AL
United Kingdom

Phone +44 (0)20 7636 5422
Email clinical.trial@headoffice.mrc.ac.uk
Website http://www.mrc.ac.uk

Funders

Funder type

Research council

Medical Research Council (MRC) (UK)
Government organisation / National government
Alternative name(s)
Medical Research Council (United Kingdom), UK Medical Research Council, MRC
Location
United Kingdom

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareNo
IPD sharing plan summaryNot provided at time of registration
Publication and dissemination planNot provided at time of registration
IPD sharing plan